In the aftermath of Kobe Bryant’s record-setting 81-point game against Toronto on Sunday night, the whispers that previously comprised his MVP candidacy are likely to grow to a full blown roar.

It’s understandable. Bryant’s deluge was the single biggest scoring blast in the NBA in since Wilt Chamberlain dropped 100 on the Knicks 44 years ago, and it came on a remarkably efficient night. He shot 18-of-26 from the field, 7-of-13 from behind the arc, and sank 18 of his 20 free throws. Pundits from coast to coast are already declaring it the greatest game of basketball ever played. With 26 points at halftime and his Lakers down by 14, Bryant poured in an incredible 55 points in the second half to rally the Lakers from what became an 18-point deficit and lead them to a 122-104 win, a victory that solidifies them as a playoff contender.

Want more stats? Bryant’s 55 secondhalf points were 14 more than the Raptors managed and would be good for the second-highest scoring game of the season in the NBA.

But MVP? Not so fast. Let’s keep things in perspective.

Bryant is on an incredible roll; he’s averaging 45.5 points per game this month, and 36.6 for the season. But how is he affecting his team? After all, the Lakers have scored less than 81 points five times this season, and Kobe isn’t go ing to do this every night.

On the surface, it seems that Bryant is helping to lift a team that was moribund last year at 34-48 back into contention But look closer. Last year’s Lakers were a good offensive team – ranking sixth in Offensive Efficiency at 108.2 points per 100 possessions – and a horrible de fensive team, finishing dead last in that category. This year’s all-Kobe-all-the time offense has fallen to 11th, averaging 107.8 points per 100 possessions de spite Bryant’s prodigious output. Mean while, the Lakers’ defense has improved from allowing 111.3 points per 100 pos sessions to 106.2, good for 13th in the league. It’s their defense, not Kobe’s offensive performance that has carried them back from the dregs into post season contention.

Bryant’s 81-point night reinforces the idea that his teammates are worthless offensively. On Sunday night, the um “supporting cast” was absolutely miserable, shooting only 14-of-42 from the floor collectively. It’s no wonder Kobe went into one-man-band mode with the game turning into a blowout in the third quarter.

However, Bryant’s teammates have shown signs of knowing where the basket is without him leading them there. On New Year’s night at Staples Center, with Bryant serving the first of a two game suspension for a flagrant foul on Memphis swingman Mike Miller, the non-Kobes managed to score 94 points on 50% shooting with only 10 turnovers. Their 98-94 loss could be pinned on poor free throw shooting, 15-of-25, more than anyone’s absence.

At some level, Bryant’s output indicates coach Phil Jackson’s surprising impatience with the non-Kobes’ ability to grasp the triangle offense. On several occasions, Jackson has simply abandoned the gameplan and given Kobe free reign to take over.

For instance, on Friday night in a 106-93 loss to Phoenix, the Suns built up a 20-point lead with a swarming defense before Jackson threw up his hands and let Bryant shoot (or try to) on every possession. It didn’t work; he shot the Lakers back within 10 when Phoenix committed a couple of unforced errors, but the Suns continued to swarm to the ball, forcing Bryant into bad shots, often with the shot clock running out.

Bryant’s final tally that night – 37 points on an inefficient 12-of-33 shooting – made it look as if Phoenix borrowed San Antonio ace stopper Bruce Bowen for the night. Those looking to see what another superior defense can do against Bryant should circle Sunday evening in the listing, when the Lakers visit Detroit.

Bryant’s averages in assists and rebounds – 5.1 and 4.4 per game – are right in line with his career norms, and his scoring frenzy will probably obscure legitimate questions about his defensive prowess. He’s been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team five times, but in a telling article at www.82games.com, author Kevin Pelton’s findings suggest that much of Bryant’s reputation as a defender is based on potential rather than actual performance. Overall, Bryant is an MVP candidate, but neither his game nor his impact on his teammates measure up to other candidates, such as Cleveland’s LeBron James, Dallas’s Dirk Nowitzki, or Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett.

The greatest irony of Bryant’s season is that last season he figured to shine in Jackson’s absence, but the Lakers played a more cohesive, team-oriented offense. Now with Jackson back, Bryant is living out his and nearly every kid’s dream of being Michael Jordan, wherein the great shooting guard takes on five guys every night and wins until the good teams come around. Jackson cured Jordan of his propensity to go one-on-five. But he may be letting Bryant engage in it as if it’s his best chance to make the playoffs and validate his return to the bench.

This strategy may backfire in the long run. When Jackson worked with Jordan, the superstar had already won nearly every individual accolade available. What remained elusive was a championship. Bryant, however, has three rings – what he lacks is individual awards and the sort of counting numbers that will leave an imposing legacy. Although Bryant is only 27, he will have logged close to 25,000 NBA minutes by season’s end, and may be feeling the toll that it takes on the joints and limbs.

The end isn’t near, but Kobe’s decline phase may be, which will likely make Bryant more resistant to toning down his offense in the name of a team concept. Thus, 81-point games may be a short term gain for the Lakers that bring a long term headache.

mjohnson@nysun.com